Food container



June H, 392% F. M. CLAWN FOOD coummzn Filed March so, 1927 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 nil. I WW I mm knn/lr nvrau "nnhlmml Patented June 11, 1929.

FRANK M. CLAYTON, F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

FOOD CONTAINER.

Application filed March 30, 1927. foerial No. 179,569.

This invention relates to food containers, and more. particularly it relates to lunch boxes.

An object of my present invention is the provision of a lunch box adapted to carry hot and cold materials, and to keep them in their respective states. Accordingly my invention contemplates the provision of a lunch box having a plurality of compartments separated by heat insulating walls within a box which itself may be made. heat insulating.

A.further object of my invention is the provision of a lunch box which is of neat appearance and which may be conveniently carried in a brief case or in the pocket of an automobile door.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects as may subsequently appear, this invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a lunch box of my invention, the top thereof being broken away.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure'3 is a perspective view of a container holding tray which may be employed in the lunch box of my invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of lunch box of my invention, and

Figure 5 is a section of the lunch box shown in Figure 4, the cover of the box here being shown as closed.

Referring to the drawings for more detailed description thereof, Figure 1 shows a 4 rectangular box 7 which is comparatively thin in proportion to its width and length.

This box may, if desired, be heat insulated in any suitable manner. The box 7 comprises a hinged cover 8 and a fastener 9. The box 4 7 also comprises a bottom '10, to the inner face of which are secured strips 11. To one of the ends of each of the strips 11 is hinged a partition 12 which is resiliently kept in upright position by springs 13. A. box or 50 closed tray 14 is positioned-within the box 7 between one of the ends thereof and the partition 12. The hinged partition 12 is resiliently pressed against the tray 14 by means of the springs 13. At the top of the 5 hinged partition 12 are projections 15 extending inwardly of the box, as shown at 1,7

in Figure 2. These projections 15 function to hold the box down as do also projections 18 which extend, from that end of the box which is adjacent an end of the tray 14. The box 14 may be divided into any desired number of compartments by partitions which may be heat insulated as, for example, hollow partitions from which air has been exhausted. The tray 14 may be provided with a cover 20 which may also be heat insulated and which may have on its inner face a cover of impervious material such, for example, as sheet rubber, cork and etc. The inner face of the cover is adapted to come into contact with the tops of the partitions so as to seal the contents of the compartments formed by the partitions. Since the tray or closed box 14 is heat insulated and since the partitions are also heat insulated, it will readily be appreciated that the lunch box of my invention is capable of carrying simultaneously and keeping in their respective states both hot and cold foods which are placed inthe several and different compartments.

The compartment designated by the numeral 21 which is between the hinged compartment 12 and an end of the box 7 maybe employed for carrying knives, forks, napkins and etc. 4 V p Referring now to Figure3, this figure shows a closed tray designated by the numeral 23 and corresponding to the closed tray 14 shown in Figure 2. In this drawing, the tray comprises an open frame 24 which carries heat insulated containers 25 which are adapted to be sealed by a heat insulated cover 26 which has on its inner face an impervious covering such, for example, as cork, sheet rubber and etc. In this modification of my invention any suitable arrangement in point of size or shape of the compartments may be had by varying the size and shape of the containers. It is to be understood that this closed-tray may be employed in lieu of tray 14 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a further modification of my invention. In this instance the hollow walls of a box'30 are filled with heat insulating material such, for example, as asbestos 31 shown in Figure 5. Heat insulated partitions 32, 33 and 34 form, with the walls of the box 30, compartments into which food may be put, and when hot or cold materials are placed in difierent compartments, are kept in their several conditions.

A heat insulted cover 35 hinged to the box 30 is also filled with asbestos or other heat insulating material. The underside of the cover 35 is lined with impervious material such, for example, as sheet rubber, cork and etc., and is adapted to come into contact with the tops of the partitions when the cover is down on the box so as to keep the food in each compartment sealed therein.

It is to be understood that any or all parts of any form of my improved lunch box may be heat insulated, and this may be accomplished in any way such, for example, as making the parts hollow and exhausting 15 the air, from them.

Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of various changes; and I reserve the right to employ such as may come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A lunch box having a plurality of compartments, the partition walls and the outer walls of the box being constructed of a nonconductive material, a cover for saidbox, the inner surface of said cover being lined with an impervious, non-conducting, resilient material, said material having grooves therein for receiving the tops of said walls.

FRANK M. CLAYTON. 

